Game apparatus



United States Patent (A) GAME APPARATUS Aaron J. Cohen, Miami Beach, Fla. Application September 2, 1953, Serial No. 378,117 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-130) My invention relates to a game which is amusing and interesting to both children and adults. One object is to provide a game that is susceptible of Variation within wide limits, so as to be suitable for use by young and old, as Well as by persons diferng widely in intellect and education.

Another object is to provide a game that shall have educational value, more particularly as a mathematical training means, though adapted for use in other relations and for other purposes, and which shall have exceptional value as a means for stirnulating quickness of perception and judgment.

Another object is to provide a game that can be played with simple and inexpensive apparatus, such as can be conveniently transported in baggage, and with little danger of damage to the game apparatus or to clothing and the like with which the apparatus may come into contact.

Another object is to provide apparatus capable of use in many different ways for playing in various ways.

Referring to the annexed drawings, which are made a part of this application and in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts;

Fig. 1 is a plan of a game board on which counters or game pieces may be placed in suitable relation to each other, and

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings reference character indicates the base which is here shown as oblong in shape and on which game pieces 11 of square or other shape can be arranged according to the illustrated design or in other ways. Designs may be formed on the board by simply drawing or printing lines of contrasting color on the base or by embossing on the base or the blocks, designs may be separately formed or strips of cardboard or the like may be, attached to the base by means of an adhesive or by stapling or otherwise securing them to a base, either as separate blocks or as an entire shaped design having blocks arranged thereon as in Fig. 1. The blocks, in whatever form they may be made, are arranged in diverging or intersecting oblique rows, each full row having a block 12 midway of the row, said sign block having the four arithmetical symbols and suitably arranged within its outlines, as shown. Each such sign block forms the member common to each of two intersecting rows arranged at an angle to each other or approximately so (preferably at right angles) and they may be called sign blocks or other means. There is a row of such blocks extending down the middle of the board.

In each of said rows the blocks at opposite sides of a sign block 12 in a row include a block 13 which is blank, i. e., it has no mathematical or other symbols. Beyond the blank block or square there is another block 14 that has the equality sign printed thereon and beyond that block there is another blank block or square 15 at the end of the row, the end squares of each row being preferably but not necessarily diflerent in color from the other squares of such a row as here shown.

The design of squares or blocks when made as shown results in a design providing relatively large triangular blank spaces or notches 16, 17 at opposite ends of a two-part body which is narrow at the waist or midlength. Two blocks 18, 19 at opposite sides of the design are respectively marked S, S to indicate the starting point for equations made by placing two game pieces on the blank spaces 'at opposite sides of a sign block and placing on the block at the outer end of the same row, beyond the equality symbol, a piece coacting with the other symbols in the row to state an equation.

The game pieces 20 bear numbers from O (zero) to any desired limit. For my present purpose the numbers may run up to 24, and there may be several blocks in the group, each bearing the same numeral or numerals, so that several of the equations formed may each include, for example, a block marked 6.

According to the rules at present preferred by me, the game pieces will be in a container out of sight of the players, and each one in turn draws a game piece to determine the order of play. The one Who gets the lowest number (or the highest, if the players prefer) starts the game after each player has been supplied with the minimum number of game pieces, e. g. ten or twelve assorted pieces. The first player places one piece on the board beginning at a space marked S to indicate the starting point, and places two more pieces on the board if he can find in his lot of pieces two more pieces that will form an equation with the piece first placed on the board. Then he receives three pieces from the box (or as many pieces as he has placed on the board) so as to replace those used by him. Then the second player may start at the other S-space or he may continue from the equation first formed, as may be most convenient or desirable. Anyone not starting at an S-space can use only two game pieces at each turn, and he will add up the sums set by the equation formed by him, to determine his score. Two or more players may take part, each playing in his turn.

It will be evident that the device may be used in various ways, in accordance with the capacity of the users or according to their desire or preferences.

Toillustrate the play, an equation is indicated at the left end of the board in Fig. 1, as 6+2=8. Since any of the signs in a sign block may be used by the player, the same blocks may be used (as shown in the row next to the left of that row just mentioned) and an equation so formed may read 6-2=4. In the next row the same pieces may be read 6 2=12, Whereas in the next row the same pieces may be read 6+2=3, all according to the preference of the player whose turn it is to play.

The rules governing the alteration of plays may obviously be varied, and the method of scoring may vary. Thus, each players score may be determined by the number of game pieces placed on the board by him, or by exhaustion of his supply of pieces, or by counting as his points the sum of the answers to his equations at the ends of the rows of his part of the board, e. g. in case each of two players is limited to play at his end of the board.

Numerous variations in the devices disclosed herein will occur to those skilled in the art, all without departing from the spirit of the nvention; and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes may be made in the devices shown and described in this application, all without `departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown and described, but only `as required by the state of the prior art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is:

A game apparatus for formng arithmetical equations comprising an oblong base, a Vdesign of blocks onw said base, said design providing relatively large tria'ingular notches at opposite ends of a two-partibody which is narrow at midlength, two blocks a1: said narrow midlength portion being marked to indicate the starting point for equations, the remaining blocks being arranged in oblique rows extendng in opposite directions from opposite side of said two blocks, each full row including a sign-block midway of the row With the four arithmetical symbols suitably arranged Withinl its outline, the blocks in each row at opposite sides of each sign block being blank, the blocks in each row beyond the blank block being marked with equality signs, the end blocks of each row also being blank, and a plurality of game pieces bearing numerical indicia to be placed selectively on the blank blocks to form an aritbmetical equation in a single oblique row utilizing the sign block of said row and one of the arithmetical symbols appearing therein and also the block of said row marked With an equality sign.

References Cited the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 136,962 Taylor Jan. 4, 1944 1,402,807b lTegtmeyerl Jan. 10, 1922 1,415,019 Crossland May 9, 1922 1,766,465 Snelling June 24, 1930 2,320,832 Schoenberg June 1, 1943 

